Ultimate Hikes in Everglades National Park: How to Spend One Day

If you are looking for some great hikes in Everglades National Park, keep reading! Everglades National Park is mostly submerged in water, but there are some trails in the park that allow you to hike on dry land.

Spend one day here exploring the trails, and don’t miss an airboat ride through the beautiful Everglades. After that, you must stop at the Robert Is Here Fruit Stand for a refreshing smoothie, milkshake, and some rare-to-find fruit.

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Map

Use the map above to help plan your trip in Everglades National Park. Keep reading for more info on these hikes and things to do.

Need to Know Info

• Fees to enter Everglades National Park are required. Use your interagency pass! During this trip in Florida, you’ll visit multiple national parks, so an interagency pass is your best bet. Cash is not accepted at park entrances.
• Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.
• If you are visiting during the spring and summer months, it’s best to get out and about early to beat the heat and humidity.
• Everglades National Park has a wet and dry season:
  • Dry season: During the months of November through April. This time is popular to visit because of the great weather, fewer mosquitoes, and more wildlife. Mosquitos are still present during this time, so check our packing list for your bug essentials.
  • Wet season: Runs from May to November. This time in the park is hot and humid with highs in the 90s, extreme humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms. Bugs can be intense in some areas of the park during this time as well.

Weather and Safety in Everglades National Park

• Cell phone coverage is good here. In some of the more remote areas of the park, you may be without service, depending on your carrier.
• Carry plenty of snacks and water. Carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Again, Florida is hot, and you will be sweating!
• We enjoy eating PB&J with other snacks along the trails as we explore the national parks.
• Be aware of the weather at all times. Check the forecast before you head out so you aren’t surprised by a pop-up thunderstorm
• Make sure to use and apply sunscreen. The sun and UV index can be intense in Florida.
• As always, make a plan to tell at least one person where you plan to be each day in case something happens. This can assist in a rescue as needed.
• Be on the lookout for poison ivy. If it has leaves of three, let it be.

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Animal Safety in Everglades National Park

• Everglades National Park is home to many animals. The dry season is the best time for wildlife viewing. Some animals seen here include alligators, crocodiles, fish, frogs, toads, deer, and many species of birds.
  • Keep a distance of at least 15 feet from alligators and crocodiles. They may look docile, but they are very quick and can likely outrun you. Do not touch, harass, or feed them.
• Everglades National Park is also home to the black vulture. Vultures call this area home in this part of the United States and have been known to damage cars by eating vinyl and rubber car parts. This can be an issue for parked cars, especially in the Royal Palm area.
  • Tarps and bungee cords are available from the National Park Service. Check with the rangers at the Royal Palm Visitor Center if you are concerned.

Take an Airboat Tour & Visit Shark Valley

One of the best ways to get out into Everglades National Park is to take an airboat tour. These are definitely on the more “touristy” side of things, but can provide a nice experience into the glades if you don’t want to rent a boat or take an entire day trip into the Everglades.

During our trip, we chose an airboat tour operator near the Shark Valley area. Do this to explore the northern area of the park before heading south for more hikes in Everglades National Park. Check out some options for airboat tours from GetYourGuide!

Kirby Storter Roadside Park

After your morning airboat tour, head to Kirby Storter Roadside Park for a quick hike on a picturesque boardwalk. This small park is right off the Tamiami Trail west of downtown Miami. The boardwalk trail here is 0.8 miles round-trip. The short trail is a great way to see wildlife at Everglades National Park. We saw birds, alligators, lizards, and more!

Shark Valley Tram Tours & Bikes

After you complete your quick walk at Kirby Storter Roadside Park, head to Shark Valley Tram Tours if you’re interested in a 2-hour tram tour. Here, you can also bike on your own through the Everglades.

The tram trail is a 15-mile loop through the Everglades on a 45-foot-tall observation deck, where you are bound to see plenty of alligators. Note that if you decide to check this out in the summer, it will be HOT.

Prepare accordingly! During our trip here, we opted to skip this attraction as we wanted to explore more of the southern areas of Everglades National Park and do some hiking.

Reservations for the Shark Valley Tram and bikes are highly recommended. Next, you will drive to the southern part of Everglades National Park.

Hikes in Everglades National Park

Hit the dry trails within the park during the rest of your trip to the Everglades. Some of our favorite trails are listed below.

Anhinga Trail – 0.6 miles – easy, loop

The Anhinga Trail is one of the best hikes in Everglades National Park to see alligators! After you finish exploring the Shark Valley area of the park, head to the Royal Palm Visitor Center to hike this short loop trail.

You might also see turtles, herons, and plenty of other wildlife as you hike along the trail and boardwalk. You will see alligators here, and some of them will be sitting right off the trail, hiding in plain sight. Just don’t forget your camera.

Gumbo Limbo Trail – 0.4 miles – easy, loop

Next, right near the Anhinga Trailhead is the Gumbo Limbo Trail. Take this trail for another quick and easy loop through the hardwood hammocks of Everglades National Park. Along this trail, you will see royal palms, gumbo limbo trees, and plenty of ferns. Most of this trail is shaded, so it’s always a welcome reprieve from Florida’s heat and humidity!

➡️ Read next: Sail, Paddle, and Snorkel on the best Biscayne National Park tour!

Pinelands Loop – 0.4 miles – easy, loop

After you have spent some time at the Royal Palm Visitor Center, head to the Pinelands loop for a short walk through the pine forests. This is one of our favorite hikes in Everglades National Park because the pine trees just seem so out of place here!

Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout – 0.2 miles – easy, loop

Next up, head toward the Pah-Hay-Okee Lookout Trail. This is a very quick stop and offers a walk on a boardwalk leading to an elevated and covered platform overlooking Everglades National Park.

Mahogany Hammock Trail – 0.3 miles – easy, loop

Finally, check out the Mahogany Hammock Trail. This is a walk through the beautiful hammocks of Everglades National Park. Walk along the boardwalk to see the largest living mahogany tree in the United States! Bromeliads, gumbo limbo trees, and lush greenery are seen along this scenic trail.

West Lake Trail – 0.5 miles – easy, loop

An optional last but not least hike is along another boardwalk. This one will lead you through the forest of mangrove trees toward the edge of West Lake. This is another short and sweet loop along the dry trails of Everglades National Park.

Robert Is Here Fruit Stand

Your trip to Everglades National Park is not complete without a stop at the Robert is Here Fruit Stand. It’s located just outside the park, so you must stop here on your way out for a refreshing milkshake or smoothie.

Every morning, the staff here prepares unique and never-before-heard fruits for your milkshakes and smoothies. Fruit, milk, and ice are their only ingredients, so you know it’s going to be good! Have you ever heard of Guanabana, Mamey, Sapodilla, or Canistel? You can try them all at Robert Is Here Fruit Stand.

This fun stop also has an animal farm with goats, cows, pigs, and even emus. This is a great place to stop with the kids on your way home from Everglades National Park. Additionally, take a walk around the store and purchase all kinds of fruits and other quirky products to take home and enjoy later.

Where to Stay

🌴 Check out some of the top-rated places to stay in and around Miami!

• Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell-Downtown – our top pick! Best seller and breakfast included. This hotel is also within walking distance to 30 of the best restaurants, cafes, and bars. Compare rates on Expedia or Booking.com.
• Brickell Arch, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Miami – top-rated with bay views and modern facilities. Enjoy a rooftop pool, on-site dining, spa, and fitness center. Book your room on Expedia.
• The Vagabond Hotel – 42 Mid-Century Modern rooms wrapped around a lush courtyard where their iconic mermaid mosaic swimming pool is located, plus an onsite bar. Reserve your stay now on Expedia or Booking.com.
• The Elser Hotel Miami – overlooking Biscayne Bay with amazing views. A beautiful 49-story tower featuring floor-to-ceiling windows in all residences. Book your stay now on Expedia or Booking.com.

If you are planning on staying closer to the Everglades and Biscayne National Park, check out some places to stay in Homestead:

• Hampton Inn & Suites Homestead Miami South – top-rated breakfast buffet included, and close proximity to the national parks in the area. Book on Expedia or Booking.com.
• Hilton Garden Inn – “Wonderful” guest rating on Expedia, with cooked-to-order breakfast available and a pool on site. Check it out on Expedia or Booking.com.
• Courtyard by Marriott Miami Homestead – another great location with close proximity to the Everglades and Key Biscayne. Cooked-to-order breakfast is also available here as well. Reserve your stay now at Expedia or Booking.com.

Final Thoughts

Everglades National Park did not disappoint! We really enjoyed our quick airboat ride through the subtropical wilderness and enjoyed each of the hikes in Everglades National Park. Most trails here are short and sweet.

However, if you are looking to explore more, there are options to rent canoes, kayaks, or other watercraft and really get out into the wetlands. Ending our day with smoothies from Robert Is Here Fruit Stand was the icing on the cake!

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